We had a wonderful chat with the guys at Atelier Pol, they filled us in on some of the awesome things they're doing with A2 Letter, working in the cultural field and what they want to see in folios. Read on to hear the wonderful Swiss advice they serve ??
Tell us a bit about yourself and the studio that you work for.
Atelier Pol is a design studio, founded 10 years ago and based in Bern. Today's composition consists of Juliane Wolski, Marc Zenhäusern, Tina Blaser and a periodically changing intern. We mainly work in the cultural field and in close collaboration with artists, museums and cultural institutions. We offer idea driven and content-focused design solutions for likeminded clients from start-ups to small enterprises and across a wide range of disciplines, including art direction, identity design, editorial design, book design, web design, scenography and exhibition design.
We see graphic design as a craft and we always try to achieve the highest possible quality, by paying attention to the details and having a strong focus on content and typography.
Are you involved in any teaching and if and how it shapes your practice?
Juliane and Marc occasionally give lessons and workshops at the School of Visual Arts in Bern, where Juliane is additionally responsible for everything exhibition related. We think that it is as important to share our knowledge that is gained from everyday practice, as it is to stay up to date ourselves. So teaching and interacting with students helps us to develop further.
Any passion projects you would like to share?
With our friends from Kolt magazine and web developer Roger Burkhard we worked on the concept and visual language of A2 Letter, a biweekly published inspiration, printed as DIN A2 poster and sent to subscribers worldwide. We have always loved working with artists and curators at Atelier Pol and A2 Letter is an awesome medium to share this passion with everyone.
What do you look for in a great portfolio?
We prefer thought through portfolios where attention is paid to details. A handful of projects and some basic information that tell us about someone, that catch our interest and that make us want to see more.
"We think that it is as important to share our knowledge that is gained from everyday practice, as it is to stay up to date ourselves. So teaching and interacting with students helps us to develop further."
What has been some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt along the way?
– Keep asking questions, because you learn everyday
– Don't stop challenging yourself
– Redefine your standards frequently
– Find ways to stay passionate about what you do
What role does digital design play in your studio in 2017, and how to you apply traditional graphic design skills in a digital age?
Although working a lot in print, the digital age has changed the way people interact with products and companies. Nowadays a website often is the first touching point and therefor must look and feel like the designed product and/or corporate design. As a graphic designer it is important to be aware of the technology and its possibilities in order to maintain the quality for digital mediums.
Website: atelier-pol.ch
Instagram: @atelierpol
Twitter: @atelierpol
Where to find Atelier Pol online.
